On the Bears.

How to build a Bear trap

Words to the wise for opponents plotting ways to stop the NFC's only unbeaten team

October 25, 2006|By David Haugh.

As they showed in turning the ball over six times against Arizona, the Bears might be the single most qualified NFC team--and perhaps the only one after watching Week 7--capable of beating the Bears.

All of which makes the thorough self-analysis conducted by the coaching staff during the team's off week as important as anything gleaned from watching film on upcoming opponents.

"We self-scout each week, so it's not like we go back and change a lot. But we did get a chance to analyze a few things," coach Lovie Smith said. "We're not going to change a lot, but it is good to take a step back."

It often can be easier to take a closer look from farther away.

After their evaluation, here are 10 ways the Bears might have concluded that teams will try to beat them.

1. Move the pocket for the quarterback and use short passes predicated on quick releases.

Arizona's Matt Leinart and Minnesota's Brad Johnson gave hope to quarterbacks who want to avoid being treated like crash-test dummies by the Bears. Their game plans resulted in the Bears sacking Leinart and Johnson once each, compared to an average of four sacks in the other four games. The extra time allowed them to complete a combined 62 percent of their passes and their teams to average 19.9 points--or 14.9 points more than in the other four games.

2. When playing at home, blitz Rex Grossman as much as 50 percent of the time, because he struggles in hostile environments.

Grossman has not thrown an interception at Soldier Field this season. Six of his seven were at Minnesota and Arizona, where noise affected communication. The chaotic pace contributed to Grossman not recognizing fronts and coverages and making hasty decisions. All of which led to mistakes.

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner needs to keep in mind Grossman's 47 percent completion percentage in those two stadiums when devising a short, quick passing game for visits to East Rutherford, N.J., and Foxboro, Mass., next month.

3. Take away the run on first down with an extra defender, if necessary, to force Grossman to pass.

The Bears managed just one touchdown drive in the two games in which they threw more on first down than they rushed--Arizona and Minnesota. In those games, the Bears were 65 percent-35 percent pass-run on first down (31 passes, 17 runs) compared to 45-55 pass-run for the entire season. In the four games where they favored the run on first down and established a rhythm, the Bears averaged 34.5 points.

4. Attack the corners of the Cover-2 defense.

Teams enter the middle of the Bears' defense at their own risk. Mike Brown is gone, but Brian Urlacher is still there, and safeties Danieal Manning and replacement Todd Johnson do a nice job when the play is in front of them. The soft spots in the Cover 2 could come on the corners, in the "hole" where Brown was so good at helping Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher. Can Johnson? Sure, but offensive coordinators will spend the rest of the season finding out for themselves.

5. Cover slot receiver Rashied Davis on third downs.

The unsung hero of the offense, Davis has filled in as a third-down threat. Seven of Davis' 10 receptions this year have come on third down, easily the highest percentage on the Bears. The passing game would be much different without his clutch contributions.

6. Get a lead, because the fourth quarter is not Grossman Time--yet.

The defining offensive play of the season was a Grossman-to-Davis TD pass with 1 minute 53 seconds left against Minnesota. But other than that, the fourth quarter has not been Grossman's 15 minutes of fame. He has one of the lowest fourth-quarter passer ratings in the league at 26.4 and has completed just 41 percent of his passes. The numbers are skewed by a horrendous night in Arizona and sitting out the final quarter against Buffalo. But opposing teams have reason to think that if they stay close, the Bears' quarterback won't beat them in the fourth.

Arizona should have learned from watching the Green Bay tape--assuming the Cardinals did--the dangers in punting to Hester. The biggest problem the NFL's top returner may face now is getting opportunities as punters kick away from him. Why not give Hester more touches by adding kickoff-return duties to his workload?

8. Increase the heat inside the 20, where the Bears' offense has had to settle for field goals instead of TDs.

As good as the offense has been between the 20s, it bogs down in the "red zone" more than the Bears would like--they have scored touchdowns just 43 percent of the time (9 of 21 possessions). Struggles with the running game have been most apparent in short-yard situations--a problem Cedric Benson might help solve. Since catching three TDs against Detroit, Bears tight ends have not scored. The league must have gotten the memo.

9. Make significant halftime adjustments--because the Bears will.

The Bears have owned the second quarter this season, outscoring opponents 57-12 in a way that illustrates their newfound big-play potential. But whatever changes the Bears have made at halftime to protect those leads have been just as impressive; they are 4-0 when leading at halftime this season and a whopping 17-1 since Smith arrived in 2004.

10. Block Urlacher.

Coaches who ignore that advice risk losing leads and having a career-altering attack of anger that henceforth will be known in NFL circles as Dennis Green syndrome.